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Q&A: What You Need To Know About Main Street Skate Shop

By
Grace Baldwin
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Abb and Jennifer Grumbles, East Texas natives, moved back to Lufkin from California in 2015 to start The Roofing Company; little did they know, they would be opening a new skate shop less than seven months later.

Main Street Skate Shop opened on First Street in Downtown Lufkin on Oct. 15, a month earlier than the Grumbles thought they would be opening the store.

So, we sat down with the duo to find out more information on the skate shop and why they opened it. Keep reading for more of our interview!

Are you from around here?

Abb: Pretty much all our lives. We moved out to California for a while, but we moved back here.

skate-vertical
Skateboards available at Main Street Skate Shop downtown Lufkin.

What made you want to open a skate shop in Lufkin?

Abb: Several people’s asked me that, and I just think, “Why do anything? Why open anything?” I guess you could say it’s for the kids and because there isn’t one here. It was the opportunity.

Jennifer: When we were thinking about opening a skate shop we didn’t even know about the new skate park that’s opening in Lufkin. We just decided we wanted to do that a few months ago. Since then we’ve had a lot of people come in. We’ve sold about 20 boards. We’ve sold some clothing. Mainly the kids want our shirts that Abb designed. We’ve sold a lot of hardware like wheels and bearings. Everyone is just so excited that we’re here, that they have somewhere to go now.

Why Downtown?

Abb: I’ve always said, “Put your cart in front of your house.” You have all kinds of stores for baseball here. Soccer is starting to sprout up, and you have all kinds of stores for soccer, even football. But where can you buy anything about skating? You have to travel to Tyler or Houston. We wanted to open a local mom and pop shop, not a chain store, to bring it back to what it’s supposed to be. We already had the roofing company– that’s what pays for the skate shop, and we live here, too. It was opportunity.

Jennifer: We like downtown. We had planned to open it in another building as an old style arcade, pizza, and skate shop, but that fell through. So, we decided to open it in the building we had.

Do you like skating?

Abb: I used to skate a lot in the 80s and 90s, but I stopped skating. I plan on learning again for the youngsters.

Jennifer: I don’t know how to skate, but I did learn how to put together a board.

When are you open?

Abb: Everyone keeps asking that, but our hours are kind of flexible right now. We’re officially open Wednesday through Saturday now, but we might change it.

Jennifer: We aren’t really open on Mondays and Tuesdays, but people still come in. I’m here for the Roofing Company, and when it’s not too busy I can let people come in to look around and buy. This one guy came in this morning and got some wheels and bearings. He said, “So how long do you plan on being open?” I said, “You’re like the second person to ask that.” Like, do you go into business thinking, I’m just going to do this for a month and quite? No, that’s a weird question. I don’t want to close next week.

skate-wall
Main Street Skate Shop is located on First Street in downtown Lufkin.

What is your favorite thing about owning a skate shop?

Abb: Talking to people my age about 80s style skating. Like, I got a guy who comes in here and helps me out sometimes with roofing houses, and he’s younger. He’s in his 20s, and he can talk to the younger kids who come in here. He knows all the names of the skateboarders now. I don’t know who they are; they’re after my time. But when the older people come in, in their 40s, we can have good conversations about the 80s and 90s. So far, the conversations with people my age about the old days are my favorite thing about owning a skate shop.

More on why the Grumbles are doing what they are doing:

Abb: As far as the money, we aren’t doing it for the money, we’re doing it for the kids. Not to make money.

Jennifer: We pretty much sell and re-buy We do make a little bit, but we take the profit we get and turn around and use it to buy new product. Or we go to Houston and pick it up.

Grown Up Sandwich

By
Megan Whitworth
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With so many sandwich varieties and ways to prepare them, why stick to the boring old PB&J or ham and cheese between two slices of white bread? Spice up your sandwiches with this incredible recipe from Bottiglia, Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar, and Rock & Reilly’s.

Having a wine brunch and looking for the perfect dish to serve to your friends? There’s Bottiglia’s ‘Chicken Panini’ – made with gouda, bacon and garlic aioli – or the just as tasty ‘Buffalo Mozzarella Panini,‘ made with roasted eggplant, tomato and pesto. Both are delicious treats that are sure to satisfy your brunch guests!

If you’re looking for delicious sandwich recipes for dinner, look no further than Hearthstone. Take a stab at making Hearthstone’s ‘Rotisserie Chicken Club,’ complete with bacon, Texas Toast, truffle aioli, and a side of their signature skinny fries.

Need some innovative and unique sandwich ideas for the family? Rock & Reilly’s has you covered. Consider making ‘The Rueben,’ made with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Reilly’s Secret Sauce served on rye bread, or ‘The Angry Chicken,’ a scrumptious fried chicken breast sandwich with Buffalo sauce, Pepper Jack cheese, Point Reyes Bleu Cheese Crumble and sourdough bread. Add avocado, a fried egg, or bacon to the mix, with a side of sweet potato fries!

For your enjoyment, here is a delicious recipe for Corned Beef Sliders from Rock & Reilly’s DTLA. Invite your friends for an evening in and enjoy these delicious sandwiches on National Sandwich Day!

Corned Beef
A photo of Corned Beef Sliders.

Corned Beef Sliders

Corn Beef (raw) 1 Each
1.5 cup of pickling spice
3 buns
2 ounces Dijon mustard
1 ounce salt
2 ounces grilled cheese
6 ounces Corned Beef

Braise corned beef for 4 hours. Let cool for 2 hours. Slice thinly against the grain. Grill on flat top. Butter the mini bun and grill. Grill cabbage. Plate. Add ingredients. Serve and enjoy!

 

Seven Things To Do in the Fall in East Texas

By
Shannon Poe
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Now that it is fall and the weather is cooler, there are so many activities to do with your family and friends. If you’re stuck on what to do, here are seven different activities for anyone to enjoy the fall season with.

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Don’t forget the popcorn during your movie marathon this fall!

(Scary) movie marathon

Nothing screams fall like snuggling under the blankets and watching a scary movie, or if you don’t like scary movies, have a Thanksgiving movie marathon. Some of my favorite movies to watch in fall are: the Harry Potter movies, “Hocus Pocus,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Halloweentown,” just to name a few. Also, don’t forget the popcorn!

Go to a tree farm

I love to go to a tree farm to not only pick a Christmas tree but also to take pictures and hang out with friends. At many tree farms, there are activities for all of the family to do, such as corn mazes and hayrides. A fun Christmas tree farm to visit is Double Creek Farm. You can visit their website for a calendar of events at doublecreektreefarm.com.

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Hiking a trail this fall is a great way to spend time with your family and friends.

Hike a trail

If East Texas is known for one thing, it’s the beautiful parks filled with pine trees. The trails are a great opportunity to get outdoors with the family and enjoy the fall breeze while getting in some exercise before the big Thanksgiving feast. A few trails in East Texas include: Beaver Slide Trail, Caddo Forest Trail, Chinquapin Trail, and Four C Trail. Visit trails.com for more hiking trails in East Texas.

Bake everything pumpkin

Even though Halloween is over, it’s never too late to bake with pumpkins. Pick up some canned pumpkin (or an actual pumpkin) and get creative with your desserts. You can make anything from pumpkin bread, to your own spin on the pumpkin spice latté, and then share your creation on Thanksgiving with your family.

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This fall have a friendsgiving to appreciate all of your friends with food and good times.

Have a potluck or “friendsgiving”

In addition to Thanksgiving this year, have a friendsgiving to appreciate all of your friends with food and good times. You can exchange small gifts or have each person bring a different dish to have one big friend feast. This is a great way to make time for those friends who you need to catch up with.

DIY fall crafts

Now is the time to let your creativity come out and make your own fall decorations for around the house. You can make a DIY pinecone wreath by collecting pinecones from outside and gluing them around floral wire or Styrofoam and adding a bow at the bottom. This adds a seasonal touch to your home for hardly any money at all. Plus, make sure to stay tuned every Thursday for the latest craft project from Ginger Snap Crafts!

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Fall is the time for football in Texas!

Go to a football game

Fall is the time for football in Texas, which means supporting your local football team and attending a game. Bring a blanket and some friends for the ultimate football experience. Plus, it’s almost playoff time and you don’t want to miss an exciting game!

Ginger Snap Crafts: 2×4 Snowman Tutorial

By
Ginger Bowie
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I am so excited about this little snowman! Isn’t he so cute? You are not going to believe how easy he was to make!

2x4 snowman tutorial

Every time my family gets together we always make something. This year over Christmas we will make these adorable snowmen. My sister, Abby, had made these at her church’s craft activity. I changed it up just a little bit and added one more layer. I wanted my snowman to be just a little bit taller.

What’s great about this snowman is that the measurements don’t have to be exact. You can adjust him to be taller, wider, shorter, skinnier or whatever your choice!

Here are the measurements of my snowman:

2x4 snowman measurments

(I didn’t have the other 5 inch block in this picture! Oops!)

snowman vinyl face

For his face I just used vinyl lettering. I actually “drew” the nose with my Silhouette software. I think it is his little face that makes him so cute!

2x4 snowman face

Making him is super easy.  Just paint your wood blocks.

2x4 snowman

Then stack them up, and tie a ribbon scarf around his neck. You could hot glue the blocks together if you want, but I didn’t.

2x4 snowman tutorial

Now you have an adorable craft to decorate your house with as the holiday season is approaching us!

Four Ways to Battle Stress this Holiday Season

By
Grace Baldwin
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Stress. We all know it. We all want to avoid it. Most of us fail, especially during the holiday season.

In our high-paced society, stress seems to be a constant companion. Deadlines are necessary evils, and time management is crucial. Today is National Stress Awareness Day, and as it is Wednesday, it is a good day to cover getting through the middle of the week stress!

Here is a list of things you can do to avoid the seemingly inevitable mental breakdown as family, gifts, cooking, football, and more floods your mind and makes you want to pull your hair out.

  • Breathing. This may seem trivial, but people in stressful situations often forget how important it can be to breathe deeply and evenly. It helps calm the heart rate and gives a stressed individual something to focus on other than the issue at hand.
    How to get into the habit: Try some new yoga poses, and make sure to do them correctly with breathing in the necessary places, as directed. Try pausing your other thoughts for a few seconds to consciously breathe every time you hear a certain word.
  • Planning. I am really bad at establishing habits, but one habit I am forever grateful to myself for finally doing is managing a calendar. Making actual plans show up in text on a device I can check and get notifications from has improved my reliability and stress levels greatly. Knowing how much money I have to buy gifts has helped me be able to plan what and when to get presents.
    How to get into the habit: One way I got established in the habit was to start off with as consistent overkill as I could manage. I created a paper calendar with color coded plans and even little drawings. That failed for me, of course, but it made me see enough of a difference in being secure in important dates and times that I started plugging in all my meetings on my phone. Now my phone sends me notifications for all the things I may have otherwise forgotten.
  • Chilling. Some people are really good at chilling. I am not. If I have downtime I think I am forgetting something. So, I actually have to schedule time to chill.
    How to get into the habit: Watch your friends who are really good at chilling. What do they do after work? When do they chill? Mimicking them is a good way to start. Another way is to say no to little things you do not even want to do. It may sound fun to go to your second cousin’s Christmas party on your only night off, but honestly, it may be better for you to catch up on the highlights and watch the video on Facebook. Try not to forget  you have needs, too.
  • Accepting. Sometimes, a lot of our stress comes from our belief that we are failing too much or from believing the false criticisms of others. We are our worst critics, except during the holiday season. Family often likes to tell each other how to better live their lives. This is solved by forcibly teaching yourself to accept you for who you are. You’re trying. Isn’t that the important part?
    How to get into the habit: During the day, pack up all of your complaints and criticisms of yourself or the complaints and criticisms from others into a metaphorical box. Do not touch that box at all until you get into bed that night. Slowly unpack the box and look at each criticism individually. Is it really an issue? If so, think about ways you could approach fixing it. If not, make a mental note to dismiss the thought as soon as it comes to you.

Stress is a big issue in our culture, but it doesn’t have to cripple us. Stay aware and stay ahead of your anxiety this holiday season.

The Importance of Voting

By
Megan Whitworth
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[dropcap]M[/dropcap]y mother was born and raised in South America. When she was a young girl in Peru in the 1950s and 60s, she often listened to her parents’ friends and neighbors discussing the various candidates running for office. She and her siblings would gather with pad and pencil to tally the votes as they were read. It was exciting and felt like a game. When her family immigrated to Canada in 1968, she no longer knew that same inclusion. She recalls feeling that she “just had to be submissive” to the process taking place around her.

michelleandmom
A photo of Michelle Cox, left, and her mother, Alda Doxey .

She married my American father in 1976 and was naturalized an U.S. citizen in 1988 before his career with the U.S. State Department took us overseas for his first assignment. I remember that exciting day; the swearing in, the parade float she sat on in Washington D.C., friends gathering to celebrate at our Maryland home that evening. And only a few months later, she cast her first vote as an American citizen in support of George H. W. Bush. She felt pride and gratitude in being part of this solemn process.

This election cycle has certainly been memorable. My four sons have listened to my husband and me discuss the candidates, watch clips from interviews and the debates.

[pullquote]”And suddenly, I had tears fill my eyes. I blinked them back, feeling a little foolish to show that kind of emotion at a plastic waist-high table in the Nacogdoches County courthouse annex.”[/pullquote]

My one-year-old daughter kicked her feet, squirming in her stroller, on the first day of early voting as I filled in the rectangles next to names of men and women competing for civic office. And suddenly, I had tears fill my eyes. I blinked them back, feeling a little foolish to show that kind of emotion at a plastic waist-high table in the Nacogdoches County courthouse annex. But, all around me was the hum of volunteers directing voters through the identification process and handing out paper ballots, friendly greetings and jovial admonitions to take an “I Voted Early” sticker on the way out. Lying passively in front of me was a sheet of paper that I got to fill out any way I chose, including writing in any of the names legally approved and taped to the table top – which I did confidently, for Evan McMullin. What a great privilege, I thought. But, an awesome and humbling responsibility. Who I vote for will impact so many lives, not just my own or those of my family members. It made me pause with wet eyes.

As a woman of mixed ethnic heritage and international upbringing, I have gathered little bits of so many places, cultures, and peoples during our three diplomatic assignments and extensive travel, and tucked them into my heart and mind. There are so many ways to dress a person, to speak a thought, to live a life; so many ways to prepare the same ingredients and create a vibrant array of dishes. We all have something to contribute, was a thought I marveled over as Spanish coastline, Dutch gardens, or Austrian Alps passed my childhood minivan’s window.

[pullquote]”Our vote is our voice, our conscience, our hopes, our fears all in one series of marks, each unique from the next voter or the one before.”[/pullquote]

By putting our hand to the ballot, pen tip quivering with anticipation, we add our individual experience to the collective outcome that is our nation. All the talk and rant and discussion and debate and accusation and analysis of the past year, and more, comes to a head. Made of ink. Our vote is our voice, our conscience, our hopes, our fears all in one series of marks, each unique from the next voter or the one before. We can step out of the box of other people’s expectations and into the voting booth with our own will and reason to guide us. Then walk out with a smile and a nod to hold the door for someone else coming in.

More Than a Jack-O-Lantern, More Than a Pie

By
Kevin Wilson
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While October has Halloween and its jack-o-lanterns, November has Thanksgiving and its pumpkin pies. In just a few weeks, the aroma of pumpkin pies baking in kitchen ovens will penetrate every room in homes across our nation.

Yet, did you know pumpkins are used in recipes beyond desserts? Have you ever considered adding pumpkin to your chili or your brisket?  We have, and we discovered we enjoyed this change. Too, we learned that pumpkin is a good substitute for tomatoes.

Today, on Home Cooked Cuisine, we bring you Pumpkin Chili. This is a quick and simple recipe, and it cooks in the Crock-Pot at night while you sleep or during the day while you work.  We love this recipe from Gina Homolka’s “Skinny Taste: Fast and Slow.” Check out our Home Cooked Cuisine blog in a few weeks to find our recipe for a hearty pumpkin brisket.

Happy Cooking from Kevin and Mom!

Pumpkin Chili

2 pounds lean ground turkey
2 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (15 ounces) can Great Northern or navy beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounces) can pinto beans
1 (15 ounces) can unsweetened pumpkin puree
2 4-ounce cans chopped mild green chiles
1 ½ tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves

Fry turkey and one teaspoon of salt until done. Transfer to a Crock-Pot. Add oil to the skillet, reduce the heat to medium, and add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to the Crock-Pot.. Add the broth, beans, pumpkin, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, oregano, bay leaves, and the remaining salt. Stir well. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Remove the bay leaves and adjust the seasoning to taste before serving. Enjoy!

National Novel Writing Month Allows Aspiring Writers to Promote Their Trade

By
Grace Baldwin
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National Write a Novel Month is during the month of November. It is also the name of a non-profit organization and competition for aspiring writers across the world.

The competition is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Aspiring writers track their progress by word count and connect with published authors and other writers in their region for helpful comments and critiques.

Resources for inspiration and pep talks from well known authors are also available.

Starting Nov. 20, writers win by “validating” their novel by pasting their novel into the word count validator.

Winners are invited into the inner writer’s circle and receive access to special offers from sponsors such as 50 percent off of Scrivener, a recent and popular tool among many authors. View more offers for winners here.

I am taking the challenge. Writing is a passion of mine, and I know I do not write enough. To effectively learn a trade, you must practice it. So, I will begin writing a daunting 50,000 words for November and document my progress. By the end of the month, I will have a story on my experience writing a novel in a month. 

If you would like to share your experience with the challenge, contact us at info@texasforestcountryliving.com.

NaNoWriMo is a non profit organization formerly known as the Office of Letters and Light. The event began in 1999, and the organization became a non prophet in 2005. NaNoWriMo is involved with the following activities for writers: National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the “Now What?” Months.

In 2015 there were 431,626 participants, 80,127 of which were students and educators, who completed the challenge. Over 250 of the novels on NaNoWriMo have been published, including Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants,” Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus,” Hugh Howey’s “Wool,” Rainbow Rowell’s “Fangirl,” Jason Hough’s “The Darwin Elevator,” and Marissa Meyer’s “Cinder.”

According to their website, the NaNoWriMo organization values enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline. Their mission statement is, “National Novel Writing Month believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.”

For more information about the organization, visit nanowrimo.org.

Legendary Songwriter Jimmy Webb Coming to Lufkin

By
Shannon Poe
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Angelina Arts Alliance is thrilled to present a true living legend of songwriting, Jimmy Webb on Tuesday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple Theater on the Angelina College campus. Jimmy has been crafting amazing songs, many of which have become cherished standards, for some forty years. Though some might still not know his name, they know the songs: “Wichita Lineman,” “By The Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Galveston,” “The Highwayman,” “Up, Up and Away,” “MacArthur Park,” and many more. Tickets are on sale now and range from $30-$40 (Premium/Box $45). Angelina Arts Alliance proudly presents Jimmy Webb – America’s Songwriter along with show sponsors First Bank & Trust East Texas and The Stafford Family. 2016-2017 Season Sponsors are Georgia – Pacific and CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial.

Jimmy Webb -- Coming to the Temple Theater November 22, at 7:30 pm.
Jimmy Webb — Coming to the Temple Theater November 22, at 7:30 pm.

Jimmy Webb’s songs have been recorded or performed by the best including Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Linda Ronstadt, and Carly Simon.  Webb is the only artist ever to have received Grammy Awards for music, lyrics, and orchestration. At the age of nineteen, he was the youngest man ever inducted into the National Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, and is dedicated to the preserving the rights and the craft of the songwriter.

On a personal note, Buddy Temple was a long-time fan of Jimmy and inspired by his music. Several years ago they formed a friendship that remained to the end. This intimate evening with Jimmy at the piano is sure to include inspiring songs, and memories of the times they spent together as friends.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Temple Theater Box Office on the Angelina College Lufkin campus, Monday through Friday 11 am – 5 pm or call (936) 633-5454, or go online at www.angelinaarts.org . Details and video clips from the entire season are on the Arts Alliance website. Follow Angelina Arts Alliance on Facebook for late-breaking news, photos, videos and ticket giveaways.

No. 7 Tyler College Ends Lady Roadrunner Soccer Season

By
Gary Stallard
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Tyler College’s Adai Urieta (15), Shauni Reid (3) and Cooper Mullins (24) surround Angelina College’s Leslie Saenz during Thursday’s conference semifinal match. (AC Press photo/Gary Stallard)

The Angelina College Lady Roadrunner soccer team saw its remarkable inaugural season come to an end on Thursday, with the No. 7 Tyler College Lady Apaches taking care of their home field advantage in a 7-0 win in Tyler.

Six different Lady Apaches found the net, with Carlota Suarez striking twice. Claire Ramet, Jolenne Calleja, Cooper Mullins, O’Shay Nelson and Shauni Reid also scored for Tyler, which advances to Sunday’s finals against Navarro College, winners over Northeast Texas Community College in Thursday’s other semifinal.

AC head coach Freddy Drago said he knew his team was disappointed in the outcome, but reminded them of the larger picture.

“I told the girls after the regular-season finale on Saturday that whatever they did after that was icing on the cake,” Drago said. “For a first-year program to make the playoffs is pretty amazing, and I don’t want them to forget it.”

The bigger and faster Lady Apaches pressed a relentless attack while holding the Lady Roadrunners to precious few scoring chances. Lauren Martinez sent two kicks near the Tyler goal, and Bre Hinojos nearly pulled off a score off an interception midway through the second half.

In the end, however, the Lady Apaches proved worthy of their national ranking.

But Drago said this year was only the beginning for his young program.

“From the beginning, we told the girls when they came here we’d be counting on them to lay a foundation for future teams,” Drago said. “I’m very happy and very proud of the way they represented this team, our college and our community.”

The e-mail address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu

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